CONCORD — Bridget Eldridge and Lauren Mercuri of Gilford attended and completed "Camp Fully Involved", a fire fighting experience camp at the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord, NH. Eldridge and Mercuri joined 14 other women, from ages 14-20 years old graduated from the program at ceremonies on Friday evening, August 1.

Camp Fully Involved is the result of the efforts of Lt. Jess Wyman, of Nashua Fire and Rescue who wanted to develop an experience where young women could "try" firefighting as a potential future job. Wyman commented that the resident camp provides the young women who attend a "safe, dynamic, interactive and physically challenging environment to gain strength, develop knowledge of firefighting and build confidence and leadership skills."

Those attending include women from Canada, Hawaii, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In recent years women from France, California, New York, Washington state, and South Carolina have attended. The camp staff is an all-volunteer group of women and men firefighters from many New England and New York communities.

The attendees were housed in a college-style dormitory that is part of the NH Fire Academy. Their activities over the week included familiarity with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), Mayday (life-saving) drills, moving hose lines, vehicle extrication, house fires, rappelling, wildfire fighting, dumpster fires, multi-story building fires, engine company attack, ladder company ventilation and search. It is all "brought together" in an intense team operation held at the NH Fire Academy Training site.

MEREDITH —The Wizard of Oz will be performed by the Interlakes Children's Theatre at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16 in the Inter-Lakes Auditorium.

The Wizard of Oz is the last production put on by the Interlakes Children's Theater. This 50 minute show will appeal to younger audiences, and for the young at heart. Stars include local area tweens and teens who have been working all summer honing their theatre skills. Participating teens and tweens get a real summer stock experience, as they cast and rehearse for two weeks and then put on a show. They work with professional summer stock directors, choreographers, and music directors.

The Interlakes Children's Theatre 2014 summer season is being sponsored by Children's Dentistry of the Lakes Region and Kennell Orthodontics. For more information or to purchase tickets call 1-888-245-6374 or visit InterlakesChildrensTheatre.org.

LACONIA — Pitman's Freight Room will host a Live Comedy show featuring George Hamm, Mike Prior and Johnny Cail on Saturday, August 16 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door.

George Hamm has brought laughter around the nation and beyond - from the Comedy Connection in Portland, Maine to the Improv in Los Angeles. He has appeared at the Comedy Store, LA Cabaret, Comedy Connection in both Portland and Boston. Mike Prior has toured with several national recording artists such as Weird Al Yankovick, and Randy Travis. He was one of the featured performers on a Comedy Central special in 2004, and has played supporting roles in commercials for the New England Aquarium and Boston Center for the Arts. His ability to work clean has made him a fan favorite at hundreds of corporate and college venues. Mike has an amazing ability to turn life's most frustrating moments into hilarious stories in which everyone can relate. The victim of a recent mugging, Mike now calls himself a professional victim. He believes that if there was ever a school for professional criminals, he would be the first homework assignment.

Johnny Cail grew up in a trailer in Westbrook, Maine and currently still lives there; however, Cail is hoping that comedy will change that. Cail's home life is something that he touches on in his stand-up comedy routine. Cail is now considered one of the hottest opening acts in the New England area and has recently opened for national headlining acts such as Bob Marley, James Stevens III, Artie Fletcher and Butch Bradley. He can also be seen opening for New England comedy heavy weights DJ Hazard, Paul Nardizzi and a long list of others.

HOLDERNESS — On Tuesday, August 19 join the Lakes Region Conservation Trust on a paddle to two LRCT-conserved properties on Squam Lake: the Butterworth Preserve, a 33.5-acre property which includes 3,000 feet of shoreline, and the Jimmy Point Preserve, a 6.3-acre property which includes 1,850 feet of shoreline and two small islands. The lead guide for this trip is John Oliver, LRCT Advisor and dedicated stewardship volunteer, who will share his extensive knowledge of LRCT's conserved lands, wildlife, and history along the way.

The trip will begin at 8 am and participants will be able to choose between a shorter paddle to the Butterworth Preserve and back (approximately 1.5 – 2 miles round-trip; returning at approximately 11 am) or an option to continue along to Jimmy Point and back (approximately 4 miles round-trip; returning at approximately 1:30 pm). Participants will all paddle together to the Butterworth Preserve and at that point can decide whether to return to the start or continue on the longer route loop. Participants will enjoy lunch together at a stopping point along the route and there will be opportunities for swimming in a few spots along the way for those who are interested.

Preregistration is required for this paddle and will be limited to 20 kayaks/canoes. To preregister, contact LRCT at
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or 603-253-3301. All LRCT guided excursions are free to all. LRCT's conservation work preserves community character, conserves critical wildlife habitat and diverse ecosystems, protects natural landmarks and scenic landscapes, and provides recreational opportunities for people of all ages. To learn more about the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, visit the website at www.lrct.org.